has anyone got private health care?

Nicki

The Benenden hospital thing though is only an issue if you need in patient treatment. If you don't actually need an operation or a major hospital based diagnostic test, you can see a local consultant on their list. As I say I am not and never have been a member of this one, but I know public sector workers in my area who are and have been able to access things like physio, mental health counselling, etc in the local area (which for me is central London).

A 40 mile journey on the rare occasion you might need a hospital stay could be the price you have to pay for a much cheaper policy, if all the other benefits of access to care are on your doorstep?

pmduk

Toothsmith wrote: »

These medical hotels the private sector run are all well and good with nice tellys meals and carpets, but there are rarely doctors on call there 24 hrs a day, and if you have a medical emergency chances are that it would be a 999 call and an ambulance ride to the local NHS hospital where all the proper doctors work, and all the life-saving equipment is!

I'd sooner be on site in the first place!

Most of the major private hospital chains now make a point of offering 24hr on-site medical cover. The phrase to look for is 24hr RMO or similar!).

Having said that, I've worked with a private hospital chain in the past and would always check which hospitals are covered before taking out PMI (private medical insurance). Many policies nowadays offer a restricted network of hospitals that can be used and it's no use complaining when you need to use a hospital that your first choice is covered.

Beenie

avogadro wrote: »

I would be quite happy to use the private ward of an nhs hospital, or to see an nhs consultant privately. I am really not looking for a 'medical hotel', just the peace of mind that I won't be messed about, with cancellations, and so on, or face very long waiting times if I were ill and in a lot of pain and discomfort.

but as far as I know, you can't do a 'hybrid' with much success. I saw a consultant for my hand and had the whole kit-and-kaboodle done in the private hospital. Second time round, when I needed surgery on my other hand, I saw the consultant privately but went on to the NHS list instead. And waited and waited. It was 13 months before the op took place, due to cancellations and other shenanigans.

Callie22

Beenie wrote: »

but as far as I know, you can't do a 'hybrid' with much success. I saw a consultant for my hand and had the whole kit-and-kaboodle done in the private hospital. Second time round, when I needed surgery on my other hand, I saw the consultant privately but went on to the NHS list instead. And waited and waited. It was 13 months before the op took place, due to cancellations and other shenanigans.

I get Benenden though work (and haven't had it long, so don't know a lot about it) but my understanding it is the kind of hybrid care you're talking about. I believe that you can see private consultants locally and go to one of their hospitals if the NHS wait for what you need is likely to be too long. However they don't cover 'everything' (I think joint replacements aren't covered?) but for the price, I don't think it's bad at all as a safety net. Also their cashback schemes are very generous.

pmduk

Finally, make sure they know of any medical consultations you've had, some companies are notorious for finding get-outs when it comes to claims.

indiepanda

pmduk wrote: »

Finally, make sure they know of any medical consultations you've had, some companies are notorious for finding get-outs when it comes to claims.

I agree it's vital to be honest, but I think you are being a bit unfair to the insurers - they are sometimes overly strict but equally if they were too slack it would be bad news for all the honest customers.

There's a small minority who would quite cheerfully take out insurance knowing full well they had lied through their teeth on their application form and were ready to claim as soon as the policy went on risk. If the insurers end up paying those claims, they end up having to increase premiums for all to cover the costs and the honest ones end up paying the price.

I speak as someone who used to work for a health insurer and saw some of the lies people would try on to defraud the company. I also have private medical insurance, and so far have found they have been pretty good at paying out, though I was honest up front and do have some policy exclusions as a result.

It isn't cheap, but 6 week options where you claim on the PMI if it takes longer than 6 weeks to get NHS treatment will cut the cost. You can also vary the excess you are willing to pay - a higher excess means lower annual premium. You can also cut costs by picking a reduced hospital list with some providers - means the most expensive hospitals will be excluded.

One thing you must be aware of is that PMI only covers you for acute conditions not chronic. Most now treat cancer as acute even if diagnosed as terminal, but there are some conditions that will be classed as chronic that you then can't get treatment for privately - something like Asthma or Type I Diabetes spring to mind. Having said that, policies will sometimes cover acute flare ups of a chronic condition until such time as it returns to its usual state.

You will find some policies offer you extra benefits that you might not have expected from your private medical insurance - e.g. Aviva offer discounts on gym membership, a 24 hour GP helpline (basically like a private version of NHS direct - tended to be quicker than NHS direct when I used it), and stress counselling helpline and Pru Health has a "Vitality" programme which is designed to reward policyholders that do things to improve their health - be it going to the gym (which they also do discounts for) or buying healthy food at Sainsbury's.

I wouldn't rush into a purchase as there are many different factors to consider so you can work out which policy options best fit your need.

If you can find an IFA with knowledge of the market it could be worthwhile consulting one, but be aware there aren't many IFAs that specialize in the individual PMI market because it's very complex compared to say life insurance, but not that high in commission paid.

lostinrates

Beenie wrote: »

but as far as I know, you can't do a 'hybrid' with much success. I saw a consultant for my hand and had the whole kit-and-kaboodle done in the private hospital. Second time round, when I needed surgery on my other hand, I saw the consultant privately but went on to the NHS list instead. And waited and waited. It was 13 months before the op took place, due to cancellations and other shenanigans.

I have been having 'hybrid care' this time.

Previous treatment all private, including gp, was a standard no one could reasonably expect the NHS to provide. If I got so much as a spot or chapped lips the gp who checked me at least weekly during the worst year of my illness, wanted to know 'why'. And picked up all sorts of other things.

The frustrating thing is I have notes that cover 100s of thousands of medical care and diagnoses that the NHS do not want to use because they came from exclusively private sources.

This time the consultants (bar one who is exclusively private) work in both NHS and private and have both seen me both NHS and private. My experience so far is that the standards are simply less enhanced outside London, and that is probably to be expected that experts in their fields want to be based in cities not rural outposts!


Regarding medical hotels....well, my 'local' a and e is further than the nearest very swish and hotely private hospital. They are also nothing like as clean. For something 'routine' I would opt for clean and attentive if possible.

pmduk

indiepanda wrote: »

I agree it's vital to be honest, but I think you are being a bit unfair to the insurers - they are sometimes overly strict but equally if they were too slack it would be bad news for all the honest customers.

I was referring to those companies that will consider a GP's consultation (with no treatment required) for a cough as an excuse to deny any chest related claims for years afterwards. Some companies were notorious for this. My experience is dated now, so I won't name names.

coochy123

I'm sorry that I don't have any experience to share on this subject but I'm just posting to say thanks to the OP and people who have recommended Benenden.
After reading this thread and thinking of a health care plan for a while I took a look at Benenden and think it's perfect as a safety net for me and my OH.
So thanks for recommending - hopefully I won't have to use it but it's nice to have just in case!

timeou

Beenie wrote: »

but as far as I know, you can't do a 'hybrid' with much success. I saw a consultant for my hand and had the whole kit-and-kaboodle done in the private hospital. Second time round, when I needed surgery on my other hand, I saw the consultant privately but went on to the NHS list instead. And waited and waited. It was 13 months before the op took place, due to cancellations and other shenanigans.

I was very lucky. I have Medical insurance through work that pays for a private consultation. I was having very bad sciatica and the NHS had taken 10 months to get me as far as an MRI scan. The scan showed 'red flags' but despite needing surgery urgently for a burst vertebral disc ( I was at risk of cauda equina) the waiting list was 16 weeks for emergencies.

I used the company policy to pay for a consultation privately on the Friday - the consultant picked up his phone and booked me in for surgery on the NHS (done by him) on the Tuesday morning.

It worked perfectly for me - I realise I was very lucky.